I think it's different once they get to an actual series as opposed to one game. I heard Matt Thomas discussing this on the radio the other day.
All depends on usage of relievers going foward to the next series, or injuries. Now, the question is, why is Field and Neshek on the team and Qualls not? And then why neither one was warming instead of Qualls? I don't think Luthnow trusts Qualls as much as Hinch does, that is my opinion.
It's an injury replacement thing. For example, if the Rangers replace Beltre on their ALDS roster, he is ineligible for the next series. Barring the injury scenario, you have carte blanche to set your roster however you want from among the pool of eligible players before each series.
4 and 2 in October, Hinch did NOT MAKE ALL THE RIGHT MOVES TODAY but we got the split we wanted at KC. The third game is a MUST game for us, we have our number 1 starter vs their number 3, we need to win this one and K must go deep in this game. Sunday we are going to have a real advantage in our ballpark.
We are 5 and 2 in October, playing good baseball. Today K was incredible, he really showed he is a top number 1 pitcher in any rotation, and a money pitcher (Price is 1 and 6 in post season with 4.79 ERA). K should win the Cy Young, hands down. CAstro was very good behind the plate, but his hit was big, it was key. CArter was great, the big bat of the game. RAsmus continues to be best hitter in our team in post season. Big game for Correa, 2 very good at bats, i think we are going to see another Correa tomorrow and be very good. Hinch made very good decisions with the staff. Letting K pitch deep was very smart. Using Sipp over Harris in the 8th was very good thinking, better matchups for Sipp. Great move using Gregerson vs Perez, again, very good matchup for us. Gregerson struggled in the 9th, but we did it. Now, 2 disappointing things in the game. One, Gattis. He is not having good at bats, what should we do? One thing is for sure, he can't hit 5th because that way Rasmus will not see a good pitch in the whole game, today 3 walks. Should Tucker play instead? If Gattis plays, what spot in lineup? Carter should not hit 8th, why? Like the second game he was walked 3 times, he will not see much to hit as Castro is hitting behind, so what about this lineup: 1. Altuve 2b 2. Springer RF 3. Correa SS 4. Rasmus LF 5. Gomez CF 6. Carter 1b 7. Tucker DH 8. Valbuena 3b 9. Castro C Maybe if you want to split lefties you have Tucker 6th and Carter 7th, but i think Gattis should take a day off. If not, have him hit 8th. Finally, i have to say that Luthow deserves a lot of credit for sticking with Carter. Second disappointing thing is Lowrie. Why pinch hit with that guy, especially left handed? He is not hitting at all. Right now i think he is our 24th or 25 player on the roster. Why not use Tucker in that spot??? Lefties hit Ventura better, maybe tomorrow is a great moment for Tucker to play. Go Astros
McCullers pitching tomorrow i think is a nice matchup for him as he is very good against left handed hitters, and he will face 5 of them in the lineup. He needs to get Cain out, that must be the key tomorrow. Fiers should be available early just in case, and Fields ready in the 5th or 6th as we need to keep the lead and not allow their bullpen to dictate the final 3 innings of the game.
If you're gonna drop Gattis down to 8th because he's stinking, you may as well pull him from the lineup and put Tucker in (i'd agree with this). Otherwise, leave him where he is and hope he snaps out of his funk there. Carter has found his comfort level deep in the lineup, and I wouldn't want to tinker with that at this point. Keep everything status quo for him while he's drilling the ball. And I understand that Rasmus is locked in, but I'm perfectly fine with them pitching around him and putting him on base 3 times. I'll take that any day.
They won't pull Gattis (and I agree with not touching Carter; hell, I don't think we should even talk about Carter... just treat him like a pitcher in the 8th inning of a no-hitter....) but IF THEY DID... I would suggest DH'ing Gomez and getting Marisnick in the line-up. I just love his speed at the bottom on the line-up and he's actually on a nice little spell (.876 OPS in Sept/Oct + 1.000 OPS is - limited - postseason action). And while Gomez is a competent fielder, Marisnick is better and 100% healthy.
I love it when i am right, lol, I called it, i said WE ARE GOING TO SEE ANOTHER CORREA TOMORROW AND BE VERY GOOD. The way he hit in game 3, those 2 last at bats we could expect great things from him next game. Go Astrosssss
Thanks, plus i said that a 22 year old kid was going to have a great game for the Astros. And before this game, Correa did NOT do much
Well, Correa struggled with the glove, AGAIN. Thats why i think Lindor should win the ROY as he is MUCH BETTER defensively.
5 and 3 in October, major choke job in the 8th in the 4th game by the bullpen and manager. Second game Hinch has made major mistake with bullpen by allowing Harris to long. Why Oliver Perez did not pitch to Hosmer? Bad manager, very bad manager. McCullers pitch a great game, very proud of the young hurler. I don't think we are winning the 5th game, so we should finish October with a 5 and 4 record, more or less that .500 average we played for so long. It was a good year but our manager did not help the team much in close games. But, at the end, it was a good year for teh Astros
every manager tends to over manage the bullpen, and what can you do when all of them except luke isn't reliable?
